Constructive Feedback / Observations

[RedChucken123]

I get it. We’re struggling. Leave your negativity in the other threads.

Badalau is too slow on defense and when he’s getting covered tight, he makes poor and/or indecisive decisions and shoots off balance.

Zrno draws a lot of fouls like Dercack last year. Needs to make his FT, but I have hope.

Manny is too slow and has no bounce.

Dortch deserves more minutes. He’s been battling with guys bigger than him and has better hands, positioning, and bounce. Unless there’s an opposing center that is straight up bullying him, I have no problem with him getting more minutes at center.

Powers has some PG vision to him. Should he take Tariq or JMike’s minutes? I don’t know about that, but there’s something there to build upon for the future to say the least.

At least Pikiell is pulling players when they do something dumb unlike previous years. In previous years, he’d give guys like Mulcahy and JWill, the longest leash, it was infuriating.

Oddly enough, I’ve been to every game so far, including here in Vegas and I’m not as pessimistic as some other people. This is more reminiscent of earlier Pikiell years where we are rebuilding. Call me crazy. Lmao.

 

[Mholinko]

I get it. We’re struggling. Leave your negativity in the other threads.

Badalau is too slow on defense and when he’s getting covered tight, he makes poor and/or indecisive decisions and shoots off balance.

Zrno draws a lot of fouls like Dercack last year. Needs to make his FT, but I have hope.

Manny is too slow and has no bounce.

Dortch deserves more minutes. He’s been battling with guys bigger than him and has better hands, positioning, and bounce. Unless there’s an opposing center that is straight up bullying him, I have no problem with him getting more minutes at center.

Powers has some PG vision to him. Should he take Tariq or JMike’s minutes? I don’t know about that, but there’s something there to build upon for the future to say the least.

At least Pikiell is pulling players when they do something dumb unlike previous years. In previous years, he’d give guys like Mulcahy and JWill, the longest leash, it was infuriating.

Oddly enough, I’ve been to every game so far, including here in Vegas and I’m not as pessimistic as some other people. This is more reminiscent of earlier Pikiell years where we are rebuilding. Call me crazy. Lmao.

In the most polite way possible …. Should we really be reminding ourselves of year 1 pike in year 11?

 

[RUDivision]

This team has ZERO power 4 talent! One of the Worst offensive team I have ever seen and they can not guard at all.
So if the only positive spin is this looks like year 1 when he took over for Eddie, then Pike took us back to our lowest point.

He’s done! Have a drink w him at the tables before he’s gone

 

[RUBlackout]

I get it. We’re struggling. Leave your negativity in the other threads.

Badalau is too slow on defense and when he’s getting covered tight, he makes poor and/or indecisive decisions and shoots off balance.

Zrno draws a lot of fouls like Dercack last year. Needs to make his FT, but I have hope.

Manny is too slow and has no bounce.

Dortch deserves more minutes. He’s been battling with guys bigger than him and has better hands, positioning, and bounce. Unless there’s an opposing center that is straight up bullying him, I have no problem with him getting more minutes at center.

Powers has some PG vision to him. Should he take Tariq or JMike’s minutes? I don’t know about that, but there’s something there to build upon for the future to say the least.

At least Pikiell is pulling players when they do something dumb unlike previous years. In previous years, he’d give guys like Mulcahy and JWill, the longest leash, it was infuriating.

Oddly enough, I’ve been to every game so far, including here in Vegas and I’m not as pessimistic as some other people. This is more reminiscent of earlier Pikiell years where we are rebuilding. Call me crazy. Lmao.

Laughable!
Pulling players when not playing well?
Jmike got lit Up on defense (his speciality) yet played a ton of minutes because “he works hard”

 

[ru66+]

He's not going anywhere-- get it through your heads ,we owe him over 23 million. Do you guys who want to fire coaches have the money to chip in. Better to use what we do raise for NIL and hope he can buy players. Until his buy out declines, root for Pike to succeed

 

[LeapinLou]

Awesome that you have attended all of the games in person. You're a glass-half-full guy. God has blessed you in that regard.

 

[RedChucken123]

Awesome that you have attended all of the games in person. You're a glass-half-full guy. God has blessed you in that regard.

Thanks!!! I appreciate it!!! I try to be an optimistic person. No point being otherwise.

If I had the kind of big money that alumni at other schools have, I’d be that NIL whale that everyone is hoping for. It’s the pessimists that keep us down because even if things are looking just even slightly promising, they’ll still be skeptical to spend the money to push us over the line.

The journey is part of being a sports fan.

 

[Simce91]

The journey is part of being a sports fan.

Old school,

I love it and totally agree.

 

[OkRUguy]

The guy is not built to coach high major basketball in the NIL era, nothing will change that.

His philosophies are dated and his talent evaluation is poor.

 

[biochemist001]

I get it. We’re struggling. Leave your negativity in the other threads.

Badalau is too slow on defense and when he’s getting covered tight, he makes poor and/or indecisive decisions and shoots off balance.

Zrno draws a lot of fouls like Dercack last year. Needs to make his FT, but I have hope.

Manny is too slow and has no bounce.

Dortch deserves more minutes. He’s been battling with guys bigger than him and has better hands, positioning, and bounce. Unless there’s an opposing center that is straight up bullying him, I have no problem with him getting more minutes at center.

Powers has some PG vision to him. Should he take Tariq or JMike’s minutes? I don’t know about that, but there’s something there to build upon for the future to say the least.

At least Pikiell is pulling players when they do something dumb unlike previous years. In previous years, he’d give guys like Mulcahy and JWill, the longest leash, it was infuriating.

Oddly enough, I’ve been to every game so far, including here in Vegas and I’m not as pessimistic as some other people. This is more reminiscent of earlier Pikiell years where we are rebuilding. Call me crazy. Lmao.

OK - I will. You are crazy.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Laughable!
Pulling players when not playing well?
Jmike got lit Up on defense (his speciality) yet played a ton of minutes because “he works hard”

Agree. It depends who the player is. JMike must have pictures of him or something. Or perhaps it’s as simple as because he just named him captain for some reason.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

I get it. We’re struggling. Leave your negativity in the other threads.

Badalau is too slow on defense and when he’s getting covered tight, he makes poor and/or indecisive decisions and shoots off balance.

Zrno draws a lot of fouls like Dercack last year. Needs to make his FT, but I have hope.

Manny is too slow and has no bounce.

Dortch deserves more minutes. He’s been battling with guys bigger than him and has better hands, positioning, and bounce. Unless there’s an opposing center that is straight up bullying him, I have no problem with him getting more minutes at center.

Powers has some PG vision to him. Should he take Tariq or JMike’s minutes? I don’t know about that, but there’s something there to build upon for the future to say the least.

At least Pikiell is pulling players when they do something dumb unlike previous years. In previous years, he’d give guys like Mulcahy and JWill, the longest leash, it was infuriating.

Oddly enough, I’ve been to every game so far, including here in Vegas and I’m not as pessimistic as some other people. This is more reminiscent of earlier Pikiell years where we are rebuilding. Call me crazy. Lmao.

Agree with you about Badalau. I had some hope for him but his slowness was exposed today against a real team. It was masked vs the cupcakes

 

[goru7]

A few thoughts!! When will Pike insist on guarding the 3 point line ? When will be stop going under screens and fight over them ? We have dug ourselves a huge hole and it was too much to overcome yesterday. We are being outscored from 3 by 15to 20 points a game and especially so in the first half. We are leaving guys wide open from 3. It has to stop today as the coaches’son is their 3 point sniper and whoever is guarding him better be glued to him and not sag off

Despite Zrno’s defense ,he has to play and he has shoot 3 pointers. I would switch him and Badalau in the starting lineup. Badalau goes long stretches without scoring. ZRno scores almost immediately .

We cannot play JMike and Francis together for as long as Pike does and not sure both should be starting. . Buchanan for one of them as a starter despite his warts, he can drive , post up and draw fouls. So Davis , Zrno and Buchanan as starters or Francis , Zrno and Buchanan as starters. Davis has not to our disappointment gotten better defensively . He is being torched by opposing guards shooting or driving past him. Pike insisting he pick up full court has not resulted in turnovers and any effort is wasted so give up full court unless he goes full press mode.

Pike has to stop the mindless substitution patterns and realize who has has on the floor. Stop the automatic subs at the under 16 timeout and let Dylan play 8 straight minutes and get him the ball at the foul line extended and let him drive , draw fouls ,and shoot. He is our best player and best shooter. He has to do more defensively and rebounding but we need his offense desperately.

He has to do these basic things to overcome the talent disparity.

 

[satnom]

Agree that you can’t play Francis and JMIke together for long stretches. They lack the measurables to guard long guards taking deep threes. They simply get shot over.

I think Badalau is our best pure shooter and has size. He needs to be on most nights in order to keep pace with the high volume of threes taken by teams these days. Offensively RU will not keep up if empty possession pile up or RU trades 2 pt makes for opposing 3 pt makes. The math does not add up to competitive scoring.

Francis is our best pure scorer. He can score at three levels but will have challenges at his size if defenses don’t respect other players and key on him.

Agree that Dylan will have to play more but it’s a long season and Pike may not want to use him up before conference play starts.

Buchanan is a strong body who is aggressive and takes to the hole but has to be under control and avoid turning the ball over.

EO is what he is. Strong large presence in the middle with limited offensive skill and lack of spring and agility but can get rebounds. He lacks a post up game but has to keep ball high and make shots close to the basket.

None of the young guys have a consistent outside shot and need work. They have ability but will not play much of a factor scoring.

JMike is a streak shooter and limited in height. He has a handle and quicks but neutralized by bigger guards with the same attributes.

Zrno has limitations on defense. Is more of a streak shooter and has to improve his FT shooting.

Dortch gives a lot of effort and best option as back center but is a string bean body. Also lacks an offensive game.

Francis, Grant, Badalau and Buchanan are RU’s best offensive weapons. Among them they need to bring 50+ pts with them every game for RU to be competitive.

GO RU

 

[seansherm]

Agree that you can’t play Francis and JMIke together for long stretches. They lack the measurables to guard long guards taking deep threes. They simply get shot over.

I think Badalau is our best pure shooter and has size. He needs to be on most nights in order to keep pace with the high volume of threes taken by teams these days. Offensively RU will not keep up if empty possession pile up or RU trades 2 pt makes for opposing 3 pt makes. The math does not add up to competitive scoring.

Francis is our best pure scorer. He can score at three levels but will have challenges at his size if defenses don’t respect other players and key on him.

Agree that Dylan will have to play more but it’s a long season and Pike may not want to use him up before conference play starts.

Buchanan is a strong body who is aggressive and takes to the hole but has to be under control and avoid turning the ball over.

EO is what he is. Strong large presence in the middle with limited offensive skill and lack of spring and agility but can get rebounds. He lacks a post up game but has to keep ball high and make shots close to the basket.

None of the young guys have a consistent outside shot and need work. They have ability but will not play much of a factor scoring.

JMike is a streak shooter and limited in height. He has a handle and quicks but neutralized by bigger guards with the same attributes.

Zrno has limitations on defense. Is more of a streak shooter and has to improve his FT shooting.

Dortch gives a lot of effort and best option as back center but is a string bean body. Also lacks an offensive game.

Francis, Grant, Badalau and Buchanan are RU’s best offensive weapons. Among them they need to bring 50+ pts with them every game for RU to be competitive.

GO RU

What makes you think Badalau is the best shooter? He hasn't been very good. Francis has been better. Zrno is shooting like 10% better from 3, granted on less volume as his minutes are much lower.

 

[satnom]

What makes you think Badalau is the best shooter? He hasn't been very good. Francis has been better. Zrno is shooting like 10% better from 3, granted on less volume as his minutes are much lower.

He has the smoothest purest stroke on team. His shot makes will come as Francis and Grant become consistent scorers.

Francis is the best scorer on team. He can score at all three levels. He has a Kyrieness to his game.

GO RU

 

[Mholinko]

He has the smoothest purest stroke on team. His shot makes will come as Francis and Grant become consistent scorers.

Francis is the best scorer on team. He can score at all three levels. He has a Kyrieness to his game.

GO RU

He was 2-7 today with 4 fouls and 2 assists and he has shown in 2 games against high major competition to be mediocre at best defensively and an enormous liability at defending the 3 point line

Badalau is 1-9 from 3 against high major competition … idk what you’re watching Zrno has a quicker release from my eyes and is shooting it better on paper as well

 

[satnom]

He has the smoothest purest stroke on team. His shot makes will come as Francis and Grant become consistent scorers.

Francis is the best scorer on team. He can score at all three levels. He has a Kyrieness to his game.

GO RU

Don’t understand the snarkiness.

Francis is Averging 13.8 pts per game. 3.2 assists, 3.7 rbs and 94% from the FT line. Can shoot three, mid range and take it to the cup against much bigger opposition while putting defenders on their heels.

If Badalau can improve fg percentage and Grant continues his consistency, Francis will be a bucket getter.

GO RU

 

[RedChucken123]

Watching the ND game today. This time from Row J. Closer than I’ve ever been. It’s become even more apparent to me that Dortch needs more minutes. He played the most minutes he has all season and even though he only had 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, he made a difference. If he started from the beginning, it might’ve been a different story.

He probably defended 1 through 5 today at any given point and did it well. Shrewsbury switched onto him a few times and couldn’t shake him. He got crossed over once by their PG, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all, if he could handle himself.

And even though he only got 2 rebounds, he has good positioning and boxes his guy out to allow others to grab the board. His contributions don’t show up in the stat sheet, but it’s evident.

He was open on the pick and roll a couple times. If he can finish through contact on some of those possessions and steal a couple of points, I would take it.

The only way RU will compete is to play small ball. We’re too slow on offense or defense otherwise.

 

[dark_check]

He's not going anywhere-- get it through your heads ,we owe him over 23 million. Do you guys who want to fire coaches have the money to chip in. Better to use what we do raise for NIL and hope he can buy players. Until his buy out declines, root for Pike to succeed

I want Pike to succeed. I can’t stand being a laughing stock. I want to eat crow. But it’s near impossible and no one is going to invest in this program the way it is now. It’s been in the decline for four years.

 

[Mholinko]

Don’t understand the snarkiness.

Francis is Averging 13.8 pts per game. 3.2 assists, 3.7 rbs and 94% from the FT line. Can shoot three, mid range and take it to the cup against much bigger opposition while putting defenders on their heels.

If Badalau can improve fg percentage and Grant continues his consistency, Francis will be a bucket getter.

GO RU

I want to be optimistic

if all that happens what do we win 13 games instead of 9?

 

[RUgal]

Watching the ND game today. This time from Row J. Closer than I’ve ever been. It’s become even more apparent to me that Dortch needs more minutes. He played the most minutes he has all season and even though he only had 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, he made a difference. If he started from the beginning, it might’ve been a different story.

He probably defended 1 through 5 today at any given point and did it well. Shrewsbury switched onto him a few times and couldn’t shake him. He got crossed over once by their PG, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all, if he could handle himself.

And even though he only got 2 rebounds, he has good positioning and boxes his guy out to allow others to grab the board. His contributions don’t show up in the stat sheet, but it’s evident.

He was open on the pick and roll a couple times. If he can finish through contact on some of those possessions and steal a couple of points, I would take it.

The only way RU will compete is to play small ball. We’re too slow on offense or defense otherwise.

He brings great energy, can guard the perimeter and can rebound. His shot is the ugliest I have ever seen though.

 

[bac2therac]

Don’t understand the snarkiness.

Francis is Averging 13.8 pts per game. 3.2 assists, 3.7 rbs and 94% from the FT line. Can shoot three, mid range and take it to the cup against much bigger opposition while putting defenders on their heels.

If Badalau can improve fg percentage and Grant continues his consistency, Francis will be a bucket getter.

GO RU

Lol...sure..we have no one else he is going to score by default...dont be fooled by 5-16 fg %and 4-5 ft

Plus you deserve ridicule for saying he can take it to the hoop vs bigger opposition putting them on their heels

Doesnt fly in Big 10

 

[knight82]

Whether we like it or not, Pike is going to be here for a while. There are 23 million reasons why. Thank you Pat Hobbs

 

[RUbyRED]

He has the smoothest purest stroke on team. His shot makes will come as Francis and Grant become consistent scorers.

Francis is the best scorer on team. He can score at all three levels. He has a Kyrieness to his game.

GO RU

Kyrie? Lmao nahhhh this board kills me sometimes

 

[satnom]

Kyrie? Lmao nahhhh this board kills me sometimes

Not a Kyrie by any stretch. What I’m saying is he’s a small guard who’s a scorer and can create his own shot. Can shoot a three, mid range, attack basket and put defenders on roller skates. Take that for what you will. He’s averaging 13pts.

GO RU

 

[dbegleiter]

This team has ZERO power 4 talent! One of the Worst offensive team I have ever seen and they can not guard at all.
So if the only positive spin is this looks like year 1 when he took over for Eddie, then Pike took us back to our lowest point.

He’s done! Have a drink w him at the tables before he’s gone

Dylan Grant says hi

 

[JFK20]

Thanks!!! I appreciate it!!! I try to be an optimistic person. No point being otherwise.

If I had the kind of big money that alumni at other schools have, I’d be that NIL whale that everyone is hoping for. It’s the pessimists that keep us down because even if things are looking just even slightly promising, they’ll still be skeptical to spend the money to push us over the line.

The journey is part of being a sports fan.

Lmao...its the pessimists that keep us down!

Not the coach who coaches basketball like its the stone age. With zero offensive sets or movement. With zero idea of how to put players in advantageous positions. Who doesnt care about offense and thinks defense is 100% of the game.

Who doesn't teach or coach proper offense shot selection...1/3 of our shots are MID-RANGE....universally accepted as the worst shot in basketball unless you make them at a Kevin Durant type rate. Must be the pessimists fault!!!

Not the coach who thinks this a "defense first" and rebounding roster...with 6'0 guards and slow EURO wings, and a big man rotation that is MEAC level.

Not the coach who recruits mid major talent at too high a rate to sustain success...and always has even prior to NIL shortcomings.

Oh wait no thats right...its the pessimists fault he recruited Dean Reiber, Jalen Miller, Oskar Palmquist, etc after making the NCAA tournament!!

Here's breaking news for you living in LALA land...It's Steve Pikiell's fault that this program has bottomed out back to the level it was when he took over 10 YEARS AGO.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Zrno needs to set his feet before he shoots threes. No excuse for the running three pointers

 

[goru7]

Pike has to change up the starting lineup. Badalau cannot be playing this many minutes and scoring 5 points. Pike should not start Davis and Francis as the guards are getting scorched and more length is needed. We also need to start quicker in the first half. I propose Zrno for Francis at the 2 and either Buchanan or Nwuili at the 3 along with David , Grant and Ogbole who is becoming a legitimate rim protector . Then he can sub Francis for scoring off the bench and maybe Badalau coming off the bench after watching will produce more points. Our halftime and first half deficits have to stop.

Although Pike did his ridiculous
automatic subbing at the under 16 timeout and even sooner, in the second half and in particular the last 12 minutes , he allowed guys to play extended minutes , Grant , Davis , Dorsch , and it made a difference. The offense , defense, ball movement , the proper shot selection was much better. Hopefully he learns from it.

Unless we are playing another 5 out team , believe it or not , Ogbole has to be out there. First , he has become a legitimate rim protector and two he is our best rebounder. We got killed with Notre Dane getting too many offensive rebounds and Manny would have gotten a few of them. Pike lamented rebounding but he had to make it clear that everyone rebounds and that means the guards too. No more watching thinking someone else will get the rebound. Too many second chances for our opponent when they actually miss from their scorching 3 point shooting.

Dylan is being too passive and passing too much. He is passing to open guys or guys off the picks but he has to be more selfish and take more shots and drive more where he will be fouled and get to the line.

Unlike Central Connecticut and Tennessee , we actually shot more free throws than Notre Dame 17( 12-17) and shot better from 3 and made more of them. Our 2 point shooting was bad and the urnovers in the first half with 11 ended with 14 so only 3 in second half and Notre Dane had 16. So 3 categories of improvement. Now get on the ******** glass and rebound.

 

[Loyal-Son]

Lmao...its the pessimists that keep us down!

Not the coach who coaches basketball like its the stone age. With zero offensive sets or movement. With zero idea of how to put players in advantageous positions. Who doesnt care about offense and thinks defense is 100% of the game.

Who doesn't teach or coach proper offense shot selection...1/3 of our shots are MID-RANGE....universally accepted as the worst shot in basketball unless you make them at a Kevin Durant type rate. Must be the pessimists fault!!!

Not the coach who thinks this a "defense first" and rebounding roster...with 6'0 guards and slow EURO wings, and a big man rotation that is MEAC level.

Not the coach who recruits mid major talent at too high a rate to sustain success...and always has even prior to NIL shortcomings.

Oh wait no thats right...its the pessimists fault he recruited Dean Reiber, Jalen Miller, Oskar Palmquist, etc after making the NCAA tournament!!

Here's breaking news for you living in LALA land...It's Steve Pikiell's fault that this program has bottomed out back to the level it was when he took over 10 YEARS AGO.

I put more of the blame on you.

 

[RCBeta]

A few thoughts!! When will Pike insist on guarding the 3 point line ? When will be stop going under screens and fight over them ? We have dug ourselves a huge hole and it was too much to overcome yesterday. We are being outscored from 3 by 15to 20 points a game and especially so in the first half. We are leaving guys wide open from 3. It has to stop today as the coaches’son is their 3 point sniper and whoever is guarding him better be glued to him and not sag off

Despite Zrno’s defense ,he has to play and he has shoot 3 pointers. I would switch him and Badalau in the starting lineup. Badalau goes long stretches without scoring. ZRno scores almost immediately .

We cannot play JMike and Francis together for as long as Pike does and not sure both should be starting. . Buchanan for one of them as a starter despite his warts, he can drive , post up and draw fouls. So Davis , Zrno and Buchanan as starters or Francis , Zrno and Buchanan as starters. Davis has not to our disappointment gotten better defensively . He is being torched by opposing guards shooting or driving past him. Pike insisting he pick up full court has not resulted in turnovers and any effort is wasted so give up full court unless he goes full press mode.

Pike has to stop the mindless substitution patterns and realize who has has on the floor. Stop the automatic subs at the under 16 timeout and let Dylan play 8 straight minutes and get him the ball at the foul line extended and let him drive , draw fouls ,and shoot. He is our best player and best shooter. He has to do more defensively and rebounding but we need his offense desperately.

He has to do these basic things to overcome the talent disparit

 

[RCBeta]

A few thoughts!! When will Pike insist on guarding the 3 point line ? When will be stop going under screens and fight over them ? We have dug ourselves a huge hole and it was too much to overcome yesterday. We are being outscored from 3 by 15to 20 points a game and especially so in the first half. We are leaving guys wide open from 3. It has to stop today as the coaches’son is their 3 point sniper and whoever is guarding him better be glued to him and not sag off

Despite Zrno’s defense ,he has to play and he has shoot 3 pointers. I would switch him and Badalau in the starting lineup. Badalau goes long stretches without scoring. ZRno scores almost immediately .

We cannot play JMike and Francis together for as long as Pike does and not sure both should be starting. . Buchanan for one of them as a starter despite his warts, he can drive , post up and draw fouls. So Davis , Zrno and Buchanan as starters or Francis , Zrno and Buchanan as starters. Davis has not to our disappointment gotten better defensively . He is being torched by opposing guards shooting or driving past him. Pike insisting he pick up full court has not resulted in turnovers and any effort is wasted so give up full court unless he goes full press mode.

Pike has to stop the mindless substitution patterns and realize who has has on the floor. Stop the automatic subs at the under 16 timeout and let Dylan play 8 straight minutes and get him the ball at the foul line extended and let him drive , draw fouls ,and shoot. He is our best player and best shooter. He has to do more defensively and rebounding but we need his offense desperately.

He has to do these basic things to overcome the talent disparity.

Agreed. I would go all out defending the 3-point line and do their best to defend down low/middle lane (give up 12+ fouls down low/not shooting). Learn to play a trap/press defense (already play 10 deep) to tire big men at the end of each half).
With a less than 40% shooting team, take more 3-point shots to make up the scoring gap.
Take a ton of foul shots in practice AND make 2 foul shots at the end of practice or run circuits (My high school coach was a pro player and coach in the EBA - all our players learned to shoot foul shots).

 

[JFK20]

I put more of the blame on you.

Good one.

Notice you didn’t actually argue any point I made. Because you have no real argument to make. You’re incapable of making any valid points. That’s what the pollyanna’s who can’t see things objectively do.

You add nothing of value other than made up ******** to continue to live in whatever fantasy land you live in where RU hoops isn’t a complete mess at the hands of Steve Pikiell.

 

[goru7]

Pike is stubborn and it takes him more time to adjust. I previously posted before UNLV that Badalau has to be taken out of the starting lineup because he is playing too many minutes and not scoring. I advocated for Zrno and Buchanan as I do not think he should play Davis and Francis together.

Well it took a half but Nwuili started the second half and Buchanan showed up in the second half . A little more emphasis on playing Dylan more minutes and getting more shots but clearly Manny playing the game of the year .Obviously , his scoring output of 21 points will almost never be duplicated in conference but half of that and the 13 rebounds should not be such a stretch. The single greatest improvement he has made is as a shot blocker and waiting until the penetrator is about to shoot. He has had some of the best blocks yesterday and first 5 minutes of the Notre Dame game. We finally have a rim protector , we we sorely lacked last year and Pike has always had before with Cliff and Myles.

Going forward , Buchanan and Nwuili minutes have to replace Badalau ‘s minutes. I still think Zrno can hit the 3 and needs to see the floor . Not sure we can replicate Buchanan’s last 7-8 minutes but he will be driving and drawing fouls and hitting the occasional 3 , He gets in trouble when he slows down and dribbles too much or when he is passed the ball on the wing. He seemed to up his pace with the high Pick and Roll with Manny and made a gorgeous pass to Manny for the flush.

Pike is still starting the game with the automatic ridiculous subs at the under 16 timeout and that has to stop. But at least second half Notre Dame and almost most of UNLV game except first 10 minutes, he allowed guys to play longer stretches and they seemed to find more rhythm and flow.

Now it is not going to happen often but we have to try to replicate this stat from UNLV.: we shot 28-36 from the line or 76%. UNLV shot 10-16. We more than doubled the attempts. We have to continue to drive but be smart and kick it out if a defender stays with our guy but if he has an edge and has beaten his man , then strong to the hoop. With the new continuation rule , and ones should be hunted. Buchanan and Dylan and Nwuili should all be driving hard. Getting to the line with keep us in games

Nice win and now we get to play the #1 and likely #2 teams back to back to start conference play with Purdue at home and Michigan on the road. Just compete and do the things that are working , correct the starting lineup and the rotations in general and hopefully Manny stays out of foul troube

 

[seansherm]

Pike is stubborn and it takes him more time to adjust. I previously posted before UNLV that Badalau has to be taken out of the starting lineup because he is playing too many minutes and not scoring. I advocated for Zrno and Buchanan as I do not think he should play Davis and Francis together.

Well it took a half but Nwuili started the second half and Buchanan showed up in the second half . A little more emphasis on playing Dylan more minutes and getting more shots but clearly Manny playing the game of the year .Obviously , his scoring output of 21 points will almost never be duplicated in conference but half of that and the 13 rebounds should not be such a stretch. The single greatest improvement he has made is as a shot blocker and waiting until the penetrator is about to shoot. He has had some of the best blocks yesterday and first 5 minutes of the Notre Dame game. We finally have a rim protector , we we sorely lacked last year and Pike has always had before with Cliff and Myles.

Going forward , Buchanan and Nwuili minutes have to replace Badalau ‘s minutes. I still think Zrno can hit the 3 and needs to see the floor . Not sure we can replicate Buchanan’s last 7-8 minutes but he will be driving and drawing fouls and hitting the occasional 3 , He gets in trouble when he slows down and dribbles too much or when he is passed the ball on the wing. He seemed to up his pace with the high Pick and Roll with Manny and made a gorgeous pass to Manny for the flush.

Pike is still starting the game with the automatic ridiculous subs at the under 16 timeout and that has to stop. But at least second half Notre Dame and almost most of UNLV game except first 10 minutes, he allowed guys to play longer stretches and they seemed to find more rhythm and flow.

Now it is not going to happen often but we have to try to replicate this stat from UNLV.: we shot 28-36 from the line or 76%. UNLV shot 10-16. We more than doubled the attempts. We have to continue to drive but be smart and kick it out if a defender stays with our guy but if he has an edge and has beaten his man , then strong to the hoop. With the new continuation rule , and ones should be hunted. Buchanan and Dylan and Nwuili should all be driving hard. Getting to the line with keep us in games

Nice win and now we get to play the #1 and likely #2 teams back to back to start conference play with Purdue at home and Michigan on the road. Just compete and do the things that are working , correct the starting lineup and the rotations in general and hopefully Manny stays out of foul troube

Pretty well said and summed up, I said the same on Badalau from early on. Even Mark showed good energy off the bench yesterday. Ideally, Francis would be a guy off the bench too, but not sure it can happen with this group.

 

[seels2662]

So he has not done well in the portal, at all. Jacob Young and Cam Spencer were really his two bright spots but then after that the rest have been different levels of role players, like this year where Buchanan and Francis are solid role players (but asked to be team leaders).

He has done way way better at HS recruiting, and honestly he should stick with that. But that means when we have to live with a couple of years of bad records as he rebuilds a core of players.

Grant - Dortch - Nwuli - Mark - Ware -Powers is a really good core that can be an NCAA team in a year or two if they can only add another playmaker like say a Dorian Jones type....

 

[goru7]

Pretty well said and summed up, I said the same on Badalau from early on. Even Mark showed good energy off the bench yesterday. Ideally, Francis would be a guy off the bench too, but not sure it can happen with this group.

Definitely think I agree with you. Francis off the bench. The fewer minutes with Davis and Francis together the better. Plus Francis off the bench at say the 13 minute mark can give us a scoring option when we normally have scoring droughts

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Definitely think I agree with you. Francis off the bench. The fewer minutes with Davis and Francis together the better. Plus Francis off the bench at say the 13 minute mark can give us a scoring option when we normally have scoring droughts

I suspect Pike would’ve loved to go that route but Buchanan has been inconsistent and not reliable as a secondary ball handler to Davis. Our best hope is for him to settle in. There’s no other candidate unfortunately to play that role for extended minutes.

Francis and Davis will always be on the floor together at the end of any close games for ball handling and FT purposes.

 

[bac2therac]

So he has not done well in the portal, at all. Jacob Young and Cam Spencer were really his two bright spots but then after that the rest have been different levels of role players, like this year where Buchanan and Francis are solid role players (but asked to be team leaders).

He has done way way better at HS recruiting, and honestly he should stick with that. But that means when we have to live with a couple of years of bad records as he rebuilds a core of players.

Grant - Dortch - Nwuli - Mark - Ware -Powers is a really good core that can be an NCAA team in a year or two if they can only add another playmaker like say a Dorian Jones type....

Wow this is alot of projecting on that freshmen class